What happened
Two pilots returned to the location where they had previously completed their pilot training. For this flight, they rented a Cessna 172RG to revisit those specific training areas. During the flight, the aircraft underwent an in-flight breakup. The wreckage of the airplane was located in a semi-remote area, with debris scattered over a distance of more than half a mile.
The investigation
An examination of the wreckage revealed that the wing-to-fuselage attach fitting on the left wing had separated in an upward direction. The fracture surfaces on this component showed evidence of positive overload characteristics. Following the initial separation, the left wing struck the upper cabin section and the right wing, causing those components to break up.
Findings
Weather studies conducted during the investigation determined that visual meteorological conditions were in effect at the time of the accident. It was also noted that the aircraft is not certificated for aerobatic flight.